Cruel bullies told me to ‘go eat another sausage roll' – now I'm 17st lighter after ditching £400-a-month addiction
Her weight loss secret? Ditching a £400-a-month habit.
9
9
9
Rachel Pashley weighed 30st 13lbs and was a size 32 at her heaviest.
It was during a family day out to a theme park that she made the heartbreaking realisation about the impact her weight was having on her life.
The 32-year-old wasn't able to take her two sons, Ethan, 13, and Jenson, 12, on a ride and had to watch them enjoy it without her.
Since that day, she's managed to shrink down to 12st and a size 12, and has been to Disneyland Paris, where she was able to go on any ride she wanted to.
Rachel, from Brighton, recalled: "We went to a theme park and I realised that I couldn't go on the ride, so my friend had to go on with my kids. It was sad.
'I couldn't walk up the stairs, and I was always too tired, so I'd take my kids to breakfast club and go back to bed.
'I couldn't run around after my children. We never went on bike rides, we never did anything.
'Now, we can do anything, bike rides, theme parks, days out in London, days at the gym and swimming.
'We've been to Disneyland Paris, and I didn't have to worry about getting on the rides. It was amazing.
'I was really depressed before and struggled with buying clothing, but I'm so much more confident now.
'The best part of this journey isn't the weight loss, it's getting my life back.
'I can finally be present for my boys, enjoy days out, and feel proud of the woman I've become."
Rachel spent £400 a month on takeaways and said she "used to eat rubbish all day and barely move".
She added: 'Someone once told me to go and eat another sausage roll.
'And online, I tried to do plus-sized fashion, and people would say I could barely breathe trying on clothes. It was horrible."
After having a £12,500 gastric bypass in May 2021, she now fuels her body with "real food" and moves every day.
Rachel said: "I finally feel like I'm living, not just existing."
Food for comfort
Rachel had always been 'curvy' and was a size 16 when Jenson was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma.
The semi-permanent make-up artist says the diagnosis was the 'turning point' as she turned to food for comfort.
Her expensive takeaway habit came as a result of not having enough time to cook or exercise due to hospital appointments.
Thankfully, Jenson has been in remission for 10 years.
Rachel said, 'That period was horrendous.
'It was 18 months' worth of treatment, sitting in a hospital room and massively comfort eating.
'He went into intensive care, and that was the turning point. 'I ate absolute crap.
'It was a family-sized chocolate bar every night on the way home from the hospital.
'I'd have a full English for breakfast, a meal deal from Co-Op, chocolate and a share bag of crisps for lunch.
'We had takeaways six days a week and I never cooked. If I did, it was freezer food.
'There were a lot of kebabs and Dominoes. The delivery driver knew us. 'Now, I'm really into nutrition and cooking.
'We haven't had a takeaway at all this year and we're really proud of ourselves.'
9
9
9
9
Now, Rachel works out four times a week.
She forked out another £12,000 to have an arm and breast lift in January this year and plans to complete her look with a tummy tuck in September.
Rachel added: 'I remember the day when I was walking to the shop for some binge eating food because I'd had a really bad day and was at my heaviest, and I was crying my eyes out.
'I bumped into someone I used to work with, and she said she'd had weight loss surgery and it was the most amazing thing she'd ever done, so I went home and booked a consultation.
'When I was on the journey, I just wanted to get back to a size 16, but I kept going.
'I fit into a small skirt in Zara now, and it feels amazing because I never thought I'd get to this point."
Now, people can't believe how much Rachel has changed.
She said: 'In Aldi, I bumped into a girl I used to work with and said hello, and she completely blanked me.
'Then she messaged me asking if that was me, and she didn't recognise me.
'It feels amazing.'
Rachel is sharing her story to inspire others who are struggling with their weight.
She documents her weight loss journey on her social media page @racheljadepashley.
'I wanted to share my story because I know what it's like to feel completely lost in your body and stuck in a cycle that feels impossible to break. 'If someone out there sees this and realises change is possible, then that's everything.'
9
9
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
I swapped injections for ‘Botox in a bottle' that costs less than a tenner – and you can buy it in Boots
A WOMAN has shared the cheap buy that acts like 'Botox' with no injections. Nina, from the UK, took to social media to share the beauty item that many say gets rid of wrinkles overnight. 3 BUY NOW In the clip, she said: "Big claims, but they call this Botox in a bottle. "They launched it on TikTok and it sold out within a week." The TikTok package comes with two products from The Ordinary, their Matrixyl 10% solution and the Argireline. This lightweight Matrixyl serum helps reduce the appearance of static and dynamic wrinkles and helps boost collagen. The Argireline solution lessens facial tension, relaxing and smoothing out skin to get rid of wrinkles. The product costs just £9.20 from Boots and is also available on TikTok shop. "I'm no stranger to Botox, but if you don't want needles in your face, this is definitely a great alternative," she explained. She shared her review on her TikTok account @ justnina_official which went viral with over 5,000 likes. But Nina isn't the only person who loves the Argireline solution. On the Boots website, the product has rave reviews from customers. 4 ways to banish wrinkles WITHOUT Botox or fillers One person wrote: "I have been using this for about 6 months. It has really made a difference in the"11" lines between my brows, they're barely visible now." Another commented: "After just a couple weeks I could see a difference in my forehead! Wonderful product!" "I've been using this product for about a month now and absolutely love the way it makes my skin look and feel. It has definitely softened out my fine lines on my forehead," penned a third. How to reverse ageing in just 2 weeks, according to royal go-to nutritionist LONDON -based Gabriela Peacock, who has helped the likes of Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie prepare for their weddings. She told Fabulous: 'The science is evident that we all have the power to make simple life changing alterations to better our future selves - no matter what genetic hand we might have been dealt with. 'The reality is, we all sometimes indulge in unhealthy eating habits like processed foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, inhaling city pollutants, and even drinking water from plastic bottles – none of this is good for us. 'All this does is promote the ageing process, but we all have the potential to change this.' It may be hard, but try to keep away from sugary carbohydrates, because they feed chronic inflammation, which is one of the worst enemies of reversing ageing. Now only will you end up putting on weight if you consume them regularly, but your energy and hormonal levels will be affected and this will influence how you look and feel. Whatever your age or state of health, it's never too late to reverse how quickly you are ageing and embrace the energy and vigour of a younger you. Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, are essential in neutralising free radicals—the culprits behind premature ageing. Integrating a spectrum of colourful fruits and vegetables into your diet provides a potent source of antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and flaxseeds, are vital for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration. Omega-3s act as nourishment for your skin, locking in moisture and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen, a structural protein dwindling with age, can be replenished through collagen-rich foods like bone broth and lean protein sources. Meanwhile a fourth said: "This lightweight serum is like Botox in a bottle — no needles needed. I've been using it on my forehead + around the eyes, and the fine lines are noticeably softer." "Such an amazing product. Made my skin so smooth in just 2 weeks. No wonder it's Botox in a bottle,' claimed a fifth
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Seven savvy ways to repair your damaged hair without splurging on expensive products
IF you have been soaking up the sun recently, your hair might need some TLC. UV rays, chlorine in swimming pools, sea salt from the beach and extra heat-styling on your locks for holiday nights out can all take their toll. 6 But you can revive tresses without expensive products using these top tricks . . . HEALING POWER: Pure Aloe Vera gel, £4.86, Holland & Barrett, doesn't just do wonders for sunburn — it is a miracle worker for dry scalps and split ends. Massage into roots to soothe irritation, or smooth through lengths to seal moisture. SWEET IDEA: Combine one tablespoon of sugar with two tablespoons of olive oil for an exfoliating scalp scrub that removes product build-up. Gently massage in before shampooing to boost circulation and banish flakes. VINEGAR CLARIFYING RINSE: Swimming in chlorine dulls hair, but an apple cider vinegar rinse (one part vinegar to three parts water) strips residue for really glossy hair. Pour on after shampooing, leave for two mins, then rinse. DIY MASK: Mix two tablespoons honey, one mashed banana, and one tablespoon coconut oil for a deep-conditioning mask. Apply to damp hair, leave for 30 mins, then rinse. The natural enzymes and oils tame frizz and can restore shine. GREEN TEA GLOSS: Brew two green tea bags in a mug and leave to cool for 30 minutes. Once it has lowered in temperature, use the tea as a final rinse to enhance shine and reduce brassiness. SLEEP SAVER: Swerve pricey silk bonnets and repurpose a satin dressing gown instead. Tie hair in a loose topknot and wrap with the fabric to prevent hair breakage while you sleep. DEEP TREAT: For extra repair, apply a pea-sized amount of pure glycerin, £6, Superdrug, to damp ends before bed. It's a humectant, which means it draws moisture into strands overnight, and one bottle will last for ages. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. My haircare routine transformed my brittle patchy hair – there's a cheaper alternative to my favourite product Deal of the day TREAT the family to a feast this week with this 40cm black trolley BBQ. Was £24, now £16 at Asda. Cheap treat STOCK up on Fruit Shoots at Tesco. A four pack – usually £2 – is now £1.50 when you scan your Tesco Clubcard. Top swap GET a golden glow when you use the famous Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops, £35 from Space NK. Or try the MCoBeauty Super Glow Bronzing Drops, £10, and new to Superdrug. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 6 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
From I'm A Celebrity winner to Olympic hero & Loose Woman panellist – Celebrity Gladiators line-up revealed
MODEL Vogue Williams tops the bill of super-fit stars taking part in this year's Celebrity Gladiators. The Irish presenter, 39, will be joined on the show by fitness guru Joe Wicks, 39, former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, 42, and gym-obsessed I'm a Celebrity winner Sam Thompson, 32. Today, the four stars will film the episode — a spin-off of the original Gladiators contest — with the finished show set to air later this year. A TV insider said: 'Last year, producers of the debut celebrity version played it for laughs with three comedians taking part — with hilarious results for viewers. 'But this year they've assembled four celebrities who can give the Gladiators a serious run for their money, and serve up a clash to savour.' In the previous BBC One special, comedians Rob Beckett, 39, Joel Dommett, 40, and Ellie Taylor, 41, and news host Louise Minchin, 56, competed against the elite athletes. Now Vogue, who won the first series of Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, will be among those to face the Gladiators. She has three children with her husband, reality star Spencer Matthews, who broke the record for completing 30 marathons in 30 days last year. Meanwhile Body Coach Joe Wicks, who is married to former Page Three model Rosie Jones, will be cheered on by their three children. During the Covid pandemic, he led online fitness classes. Strictly star Nicola, who won gold at the London and Rio Olympics before retiring, promises to pack a punch. And Sam, crowned King of the Jungle in 2023, has been throwing himself into his fitness regime since his split with ex-girlfriend, former Love Islander Zara McDermott. Two new Gladiators revealed as British rowing champ and super strong weightlifter He has previously run the London Marathon. Filming of the regular Gladiators, now on its third series since its reboot on BBC One, takes place over the next week at Sheffield Arena. It will be out early next year with Bradley Walsh and son Barney returning to host. The second edition of Celebrity Gladiators will air just before. 5 5
